The commission voted 6-1, with Commissioner Bruce Quick
dissenting, to ignore the city's recommendation to eliminate the
so-called "conditional use permit," saying it was necessary to keep
cell towers out of Escondido neighborhoods.

"The conditional use permit process is the only foolproof way to
protect the residential neighborhoods," said Commissioner Jeffery
Weber.

Escondido's current city code requires all proposals for new
cell phone towers to receive a conditional use permit, which
requires review by the planning commission. The city also notifies
anyone living within a 500-foot radius of a new installation site
so the public can have its say on the proposed antenna.

Resident Craig Rush told the commission Tuesday night that he
worried the city's proposed policy would leave residents completely
out of the project until after it was approved.

"I think it is incumbent on the city to allow residents to know
what is going on," he said. "Without the conditional use permit
process, we are silent in the shaping of our neighborhoods."

Jonathan Brindle, assistant planning director for the city,
recommended the commission adopt a two-tiered system which would
eliminate the review process in non-residential areas as long as
the proposed cell tower structures met certain standards.

The so-called "stealth" standards would require the antennas be
incorporated and hidden in existing buildings so they are not
visible. Stealth cases would not need public or planning commission
review and could be approved by the city's staff. The planning
commission would only see the project if the city staff members'
decision was appealed.

Brindle said the two-tier system was designed to encourage
wireless service providers to put the antennas in commercial or
industrial areas and keep the towers out of sight.

"This proposal would provide the incentives for stealth
designs," he added.

Any cell phone antennas in residential zones would still have to
go through the permit process and be approved on a case-by-case
basis under the proposed changes, Brindle said. But some sites,
like churches, day-care centers and parks, are located in or near
neighborhoods but wouldn't require a permit because they are
considered "non-residential."

The commissioners decided to keep the permit for non-residential
areas to further discourage companies from coming into the
neighborhoods, they said.

But Stella Acuna, a zoning manager from Sprint PCS, told the
commission that sometimes companies must go into neighborhoods to
get complete cell phone coverage. By requiring a permit for
churches and parks, it will force companies to put cell towers in
people's backyards, she said.

"If you require a conditional use permit on a church or a house,
there is no incentive to go to a church site," she said. "The real
encouragement is in doing the tiered process. Sprint supports that
recommendation."

Tuesday's meeting was the commission's second shot at
considering a city-wide policy for installing new cell phone
towers. The first public hearing was held in July.